The Seattle General Strike lives in popular memory as a testament to the power of solidarity and direct action by working people. Diverse groups united across occupations and political affiliations to assert themselves in a powerful eruption of action that closed down the city for six days. The strike was administered peacefully and competently by the workers themselves and had lasting consequences for the labor movement in Seattle, the United States, and beyond.

The Centralia Tragedy of 1919 remains one of the most notorious and violent showdowns between radical labor, its opponents, and those caught between. The event and its aftermath illustrate the limits of free speech and dissent in an era of political repression. Featuring primary sources drawn from the collections of the Labor Archives of Washington and UW Special Collections, the exhibit will offer multiple viewpoints in the words, documents, photographs, and artifacts of the participants themselves.

This exhibit is part of a statewide series of programs and events in 2019 commemorating the Solidarity Centennial.